The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has dismissed recent reports accusing it of involvement in an N3.2bn contract scandal, labeling them as baseless fabrications designed to tarnish the Commission’s reputation. According to the management, these allegations are nothing more than a coordinated attempt by certain individuals and their sponsors to mislead the public.
Responding to the growing controversy, the NCPWD emphasized that while it could have ignored the false claims, allowing such a narrative to spread unchecked would misinform the public. The Commission is now setting the record straight to silence what it calls “enemies of the Commission.”
The issue arose following a petition about the decision to suspend contract awards under the leadership of Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, who assumed office in August. During his first management meeting, Gufwan was briefed about irregularities in several contracts, revealing that these deals were allegedly processed after the dismissal of the former Executive Secretary, Dr. James David Lalu. Despite being officially removed from his role, Lalu continued to act in an official capacity without handing over to the next in line, as required by civil service protocol.
The Commission’s internal review found that these contracts were processed during a transitional period, bypassing due process and standard contractual procedures. To avoid further embarrassment, the management decided to suspend the questionable contracts and initiate a fresh process that adheres to transparency and fairness, in line with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) guidelines.
Furthermore, the Commission’s Legal Department confirmed that no legally binding agreements were signed with the contractors in question. Despite repeated challenges for them to produce evidence of any contract, none has been forthcoming, raising serious questions about the validity of their claims.
In a pointed statement, the NCPWD urged the individuals behind the allegations to stop wasting resources on orchestrated protests and media campaigns, and instead, provide legal proof of their claims. The Commission reiterated that it remains committed to its mission of improving the lives of persons with disabilities in Nigeria and will not be distracted by those attempting to derail the reforms led by Hon. Gufwan.
The NCPWD’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Ishaku Kigbu, assured Nigerians that the Commission would continue to uphold transparency, accountability, and excellence in its service delivery.
